Related Treatments

To complement our osteopathy services, we also offer the following treatments:

Western Acupuncture

Modern western acupuncture techniques are applied using fine, sterile, disposable needles. The needles are inserted into specific points on the body to help provide pain relief and restore balance.

Western acupuncture works well in conjunction with osteopathy as it is based on modern anatomy and physiology whereas eastern/Chinese acupuncture, although effective, is based on ancient theories which evolved before anatomy and physiology were understood. Eastern/ Chinese acupuncture cannot, therefore, be used alongside osteopathy.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy is used to provide pain relief and promote healing for problems of the bone and/ or muscle. The main methods of electrotherapy used at HS Osteopaths to complement our manual approaches are as follows:

UltrasoundTherapeutic ultrasound is one method of stimulating tissue beneath the skin’s surface using sound waves. It is a very high frequency massage that can penetrate up to 5” below the surface the surface of your skin. The heating and massaging effects of Therapeutic Ultrasound have two primary benefits. Firstly, it increases blood flow in the treated area which speeds up the healing process. Secondly, it reduces oedema which are the main sources of pain.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)This is a very safe method of electrotherapy which we use in the clinic. It provides pain relief by blocking nerve signals carrying pain messages to the brain. TENS also stimulates the production of endorphins - our natural pain relieving hormones.

Interferential TherapyThis involves the passing of two currents through the tissue. Where the currents intersect, a new current is set up. These currents can activate the pain gates mechanism to help relieve pain or can work directly on nerve fibers causing endorphin release. These currents can also cause muscle contraction, which in turn will cause a local increase in fluid flow and exchange.